United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Passenger suing American Airlines after venomous spider bite
A passenger is aiming to sting American Airlines for half a million dollars, claiming he was bitten by a venomous spider.
Marcus Fleming of Natchez filed the lawsuit against AA and the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport for the incident back in September 2016.
Fleming was on a flight awaiting clearance to take-off when he says he was bitten.
He is claiming $500,000 from the airline according to the suit, which has been moved to a federal court.
"After he was bitten, he alerted the flight attendant that something had bitten him but she responded that it was probably a mosquito," the lawsuit states.
"After landing Mr. Fleming noticed that the pain in his hand became extremely painful and his thumb changed colors."
Then he was told by his doctor that immediate surgery was needed or he could lose his thumb.
It was ascertained he was bitten by the brown recuse spider, one of a few poisonous species found in Mississippi.
It can inject venom into a bite victim which left untreated in some cases can lead to death.
"American Airlines is a commercial airline and owed a duty to the public, including Fleming, to exercise due care on its flights to ensure the area in which their passengers sat were safe," the lawsuit said.
The airline told the Clarion Ledger it is reviewing the incident.
"We take the safety of our passengers very seriously," it said.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel